KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 ― About 50 Orang Asli marched to the Gua Musang courthouse this morning to show support to activists who will face a remand hearing, after they were detained when their blockade at a Gua Musang forest reserve was demolished.
News portal Malaysiakini reported that the group chanted “Free our friends”, “Long live Orang Asli” and “Long live rakyat Kelantan” and that about 32 activists will be facing the remand hearing.
The Kelantan State Forestry Department and the police destroyed the blockade at Simpang Petir yesterday that was set up since September 26 by over 200 Orang Asli to prevent timber from being taken out of the Balah Forest Reserve at Gua Musang.
The Star newspaper reported Kelantan State Forestry Department deputy operations director Mohd Radhie Chu Abdullah as saying that 41 Orang Asli were detained yesterday for trespassing at a permanent forest reserve.
